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Fiber containing alkaline beverage and methods for production thereofRelated Patent Categories: Food Or Edible Material: Processes, Compositions, And Products, Product With Added Plural Inorganic Mineral Or Element FortificationFiber containing alkaline beverage and methods for production thereof description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070218170, Fiber containing alkaline beverage and methods for production thereof. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/779,021 entitled "FIBER CONTAINING ALKALINE BEVERAGE AND METHODS FOR PRODUCTION THEREOF" filed Mar. 3, 2006, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] a. Field of the Invention [0003] The invention generally relates to alkaline beverages and more particularly to soluble fiber containing alkaline beverages and methods of producing the same. [0004] b. Background Art [0005] Dietary intake of soluble fiber has been shown to provide several health benefits including lowering blood cholesterol and moderating blood glucose levels. These benefits are believed to limit the risks associated with heart disease and to some extent, the risks of developing type 2 diabetes. Other benefits to dietary soluble fiber include at least promoting immune function, assisting in weight management and reducing the risks of developing certain gastrointestinal based cancers. [0006] The American diet is notoriously deficient in dietary fiber. Fiber, especially soluble fiber, is found in fruits and vegetables such as oats, beans, legumes, barley, citrus fruits and vegetable gum. However, due to preparation practices, availability, and to the foods themselves, i.e., taste, it has proven difficult for most people to get the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) recommended levels of soluble fiber in their diet. [0007] As an alternative, soluble fiber can be introduced into a diet via a beverage composition. However, the vast majority of liquid beverages on the market do not contain fiber, rather these liquid beverages are focused on taste. For example, most conventional beverage drinks have little or no fiber, are at an acidic pH (below 4) and contain flavoring and sweeteners to enhance taste, i.e., fruit drinks, carbonated soda, various sports drinks, etc. These beverages benefit from strong consumer acceptance, and the high acidity allows for reduced need for protection with regard to bioagent control. Unfortunately, they also provide little benefit with regard to fiber intake. [0008] Dietary (soluble and insoluble) fiber containing beverages like Metamucil.RTM. (Procter and Gamble) are commercially marketed as a dietary fiber supplement, but these products tend to form a gritty beverage, typically consumed only when necessitated by symptoms that require stool softening or as related to lowering the risk of heart disease. This line of products is typically acidic to neutral in nature, and their organoleptic properties have limited consumer acceptance. In addition, soluble fibers such as Benefiber are now also available in powdered form and can be added to water or other beverages. However they offer no additional nutritive value, offer no flavor and are also typically added to acidic beverages. [0009] Little research has been directed toward the development of non-acidic or alkaline based beverages, as these beverages have not proven to have wide consumer acceptance, especially with regard to organoleptic properties. In addition, alkaline based beverages pose both spoilage and bioagent related concerns, concerns which generally don't apply to acidic based beverages. However, alkaline based beverages have been known to provide various health benefits, including antioxidant properties (Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 234, p 269-274 (1997). Recently, U.S. Pat. No. 6,572,902 to Abramowitz et al describes a process for producing consumable alkaline water having a TDS range of 22-240 parts per million (ppm). However, the water was limited to incorporation of various vitamins (no fiber), including ascorbic acid which could reduce the pH of the water in the absence of any buffering system. [0010] As such, there is a need in the art to prepare a beverage that combines the health benefits of soluble fiber with the health benefits of an alkaline solution in a way that overcomes concerns over spoilage, bioagents and organoleptic properties. [0011] Against this backdrop the present invention has been developed. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0012] The invention solves the above problems, as well as other problems of the prior art, by providing fiber containing alkaline compositions. In one embodiment, the invention provides alkaline compositions that include one or more soluble fibers. The pH of the alkaline compositions is typically above 7.5 and more typically between 8.0 and 9.5 and can be between about 9 and 9.5. [0013] In one preferred embodiment, the invention provides alkaline beverages that include a soluble fiber from the group of inulin, fructooligosaccharides and short chain fructooligosaccharides; most preferably the composition also includes a second type of soluble fiber, e.g., arabinogalactan and/or partially hydrolyzed guar gum. The combined soluble fibers providing a blended soluble fiber ingredient to the alkaline composition. [0014] In another preferred embodiment, the invention provides alkaline compositions having one or more soluble fiber constituents and one or more other ingredient. In preferred embodiments the additional ingredient is a probiotic. [0015] In another preferred embodiment, the invention provides methods for preparing shelf-stable alkaline compositions. [0016] These and various other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description and a review of the appended claims. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0017] The following description is directed at consumable beverages having an alkaline based aqueous medium that includes a useful amount of soluble fiber. Embodiments of the invention can include herbs, botanicals, flavoring agents (including sweeteners), nutrients, and various probiotics. The compositions of the invention generally maintain alkalinity and generally incorporate ingredient profiles that leave the compositions in an alkaline pH range. Note, however, embodiments of the invention can also include buffering reagents to limit pH flux and maintain the beverage pH within the alkaline range. Compositions of the present invention provide a healthy, highly soluble fiber intake beverage with a favorable taste profile, i.e., organoleptic. [0018] Beverage Compositions of the Invention [0019] Embodiments of the present invention include consumable alkaline based beverages having a high content of soluble fiber. Beverages of the invention are developed to be both healthy, providing benefits for high soluble fiber content and for alkalinity, as well as for an agreeable taste profile. [0020] Compositions of the present invention have an aqueous medium base, i.e., water or any liquid made with water as a constituent. The aqueous medium base is alkaline. For purposes of the present invention the term "alkaline" or "alkalinity" refers to aqueous medium having a pH of between 7.1 and 14. As such, alkaline aqueous medium compositions of the present invention will have a pH that exceeds 7.1. However, and more typically, the aqueous medium composition embodiments of the present invention will have a pH of between about 7.5 and a pH of about 10.0. In certain embodiments of the invention, the pH of the composition is between about 8.0 and about 9.5, and in some instances between about 9.0 and about 9.5. The alkaline pH ranges of the present invention provide health benefits to the user. A user or consumer of the composition(s) of the present invention should stay well hydrated and slightly more alkaline than acidic. For example, a user that hydrates with alkaline compositions would likely be less likely to suffer joint pain, bone loss, headaches and lack of energy. Continue reading about Fiber containing alkaline beverage and methods for production thereof... Full patent description for Fiber containing alkaline beverage and methods for production thereof Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Fiber containing alkaline beverage and methods for production thereof patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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